Dental device

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a dental device preferably for infants and small children. A dental device in accordance with the present invention includes a handle portion and a head portion joined by a joinder. The head portion includes a bristle substitute, which comprises a plurality of projections. The plurality of projections encircle the core in a 360 degree circumference. The plurality of projections can include, but are not limited to a plurality of raised wave-shaped projections, a plurality of circular disks, a plurality of circular groves, a plurality of ribs, a plurality of spikes and combinations thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to dental devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Teeth are covered with a sticky film of bacteria, called plaque. Withinthis film live thousands of different types of bacteria. Of all thesemany different types of bacteria, one causes tooth decay: that bacteriumis called Strep Mutans.

After eating a meal, small crumbs of food are left in mouths. The StrepMutans bacteria eat these crumbs and produce harmful acid. This acid canattack tooth enamel for as long as 20 minutes or more. Repeated acidattacks cause the enamel of the teeth to break down, resulting in toothdecay.

If left untreated, the decay will continue to progress through the toothstructure until it reaches the pulp. The pulp chamber houses the nerveand blood supply for the tooth. When decay reaches the pulp, an abscessensues which is associated with tremendous pain. Once the decay is inthe chamber, the only choice of treatments are root canal therapy orextraction of the tooth.

The best way to prevent decay from forming is by cleaning mouths, thusremoving the stray bits of food. If there is no food for the StrepMutans bacteria to digest, then the bacteria cannot create the acidneeded to cause decay.

The earliest known toothbrush dates back thousands of years. Known as a“chew stick”, this early brush was made by chewing or mashing smalltwigs or tree roots until the fibers at one end became loose enough toform a rough brush. The cleaning surface had much the same effect aschewing the end of a toothpick. Some native Australian and Africanpeople living traditionally still clean their teeth with chew sticks.

Ancient Chinese, Romans, and Greeks were also oral hygienists. Fivethousand years ago, the Chinese thought dental decay was caused bywhite-colored dental worms with black heads that could be seen when atooth was extracted. In those days, cures for toothache includedpurgatives, mouthwashes, massage, and pills. The pills, usually made ofgrated garlic and salt peter, were inserted into the ear opposite theside of the face affected by the dental pain.

The early Romans also had their own dental-care preferences. Pliny theYounger of Rome (61-113 A.D.) proclaimed that using a vulture quill as atoothpick would cause halitosis, but using a porcupine quill wasacceptable because it “made the teeth firm.” Ancient Roman patriciansactually employed special slaves to clean their teeth.

The Greeks, however, were much more modern. In the third century B.C.,Aristotle advised Alexander the Great to rub his teeth every morningwith “a thin linen towel, which is somewhat rough.” Using linen as atooth cleaner is documented as late as 1602, when William Vaughan wrotein Fifteen Directions to Preserve Health that to keep teeth “white anduncorrupt [people should] wash the mouth after every meal, sleep withthe mouth somewhat open and in the morning take a line cloth and rub theteeth well within and without.”

In fifteenth-century Europe, picking the teeth was widely accepted untilphilosophers began to issue conduct warnings: Rhodes said: “Pick not thyteeth with thy knyfe, but take a stick, or some clean thyng, then doeyou not offend.”

The bristle brush was probably invented by the Chinese. This toothbrushwas made of hairs from the neck of a Siberian wild boar which were fixedto a bamboo or bone handle. The bristle brush came to Europe during theseventeenth century. At the time, very few people in the Western worldbrushed their teeth, and those who did preferred horse hairs, which weresofter than those of the wild boar.

French dentists, who were the most advanced in Europe at the time,advocated the use of toothbrushes in the seventeenth and earlyeighteenth centuries. It was actually the English in 1780 who gave theworld the first modern toothbrush. The handle was made from bone and thebristles were wired into bored holes.

The toothbrush migrated to the United States and dentists urgedpre-Revolutionary Americans to use the bristly toothbrushes in theeighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. In the 1880s, hand-cut andpolished cattle thigh bones made excellent toothbrush handles whilelong-haired hog bristles were inserted by hand, one at a time.

The first mass-produced toothbrush was made by William Addis ofClerkenwald, England. The first American to patent a toothbrush was H.N. Wadsworth (U.S. Pat. No. 18,653). Companies began to mass-producetoothbrushes in America around 1885. The Pro-phy-lac-tic brush made bythe Florence Manufacturing Company of Massachusetts is a good example ofan early American made toothbrush. The same company was also the firstto sell toothbrushes packaged in boxes.

In 1937, in the laboratories E. I. DuPont de Nemours & Company, nylonwas invented by Wallace H. Carothers. (See, for example, U.S. Pat. No.2,130,948). The first commercialization of this new material came in1941 with the introduction of Dr. West's Miracle Tuft toothbrush withnylon bristles.

At first, even if there were many advantages to using this new brushinstead of the one made with wild boar hairs (which fell out, did notdry very well and became full of bacteria), consumers were not entirelysatisfied. This is because the nylon bristles were very stiff and hurtthe gums. In 1950, Du Pont improved their toothbrush by giving it softerbristles and thus ushering in the modern toothbrush era.

Despite these dental advances, cleaning small children's teeth continuesto be a problem. Between the ages of 6 months and around 3 years, the 20primary or “baby” teeth erupt. The primary teeth are replaced by 32permanent or “adult” teeth. The first 28 permanent teeth erupt between 6and 13 years, the final four third molars, or “wisdom” teeth may eruptbetween 16-21 years.

Many parents assume that decay does not matter in primary teeth becausethe teeth will fall out anyway, but decay in primary teeth poses risks.If a child loses his primary teeth too early because of decay orinfection, the permanent teeth will not be ready to erupt. Primary teethact as a guide for the permanent teeth: if primary teeth are lost tooearly, the teeth that are left may can tip or move into the vacantspace. When the permanent teeth are ready to come into the mouth, theremay not be enough room. As a result, teeth may erupt out of their properpositions, leading to malocclusion, crooked or crowded. In addition, theprimary teeth help a child learn proper speech.

Decay in infants is called nursing decay. It can destroy the teeth andmost often occurs in the upper front teeth. Nursing decay is severedecay of child's top front baby teeth. It is caused when sugary liquidsare frequently consumed from a nursing bottle for a prolonged period oftime. Breast-fed children may be at risk if fed on demand during thenight and especially if the child sleeps with the mother so that nursingcan continue at will.

Decay occurs when sweetened liquids are given and are left clinging toan infant's teeth for long periods. Many sweet liquids cause problems,including milk, formula and fruit juice. Bacteria in the mouth use thesesugars as food. They then produce acids that attack the teeth. Each timea child drinks these liquids, acids attack for 20 minutes or longer.After many attacks, the teeth can decay. This problem is acerbated whena child falls asleep with a bottle during naps or at night. There isdecreased salivary flow during sleep and clearance of the liquid fromthe teeth is slowed. The liquid pools around the upper front teeth andcreates an excellent environment to promote the growth of decay-causingbacteria.

Traditional toothbrushes have proved difficult to adapt for use byparents in infant and small children's mouths, even when downsized. Inaddition, small children have trouble utilizing traditional toothbrushesto clean their own teeth because of the need to orient the brushperpendicular to the teeth. What is thus needed is device for use incleaning teeth of infants and small children.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A device in accordance with the principals of the present inventionprovides parents with an improved tool to maintain dental hygiene ininfants and small children. A device in accordance with the principalsof the present invention also provides small children with an improvedtool to clean their own teeth without the need to orient the brushperpendicular to the teeth. A device in accordance with the principalsof the present invention provides small children with a tool to train aswell, empowering children to brush their own teeth.

A dental device in accordance with the present invention includes ahandle portion and a head portion joined by a joinder. The head portionincludes a bristle substitute, which comprises a plurality ofprojections. The plurality of projections encircle the core in a 360degree circumference. The plurality of projections can include, but arenot limited to a plurality of raised wave-shaped projections, aplurality of circular disks, a plurality of circular groves, a pluralityof ribs, a plurality of spikes and combinations thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dental device in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective close-up view of the head of the dental deviceof FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the dental device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the head of the dental device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the dental device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the dental device of FIG. 1 showing analternative handle in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a dentaldevice in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the dental device of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a detailed side view of the head of the dental device of FIG.7.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second alternative embodiment of adental device in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the dental device of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a detailed side view of the head of the dental device of FIG.10.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a dentaldevice in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a top view of the dental device of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a detailed side view of the head of the dental device of FIG.13.

FIG. 16 is a cut away view of the head of the dental device of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a dentaldevice in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a top view of the dental device of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a detailed side view of the head of the dental device of FIG.17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, a view of a dental device 10 in accordance withthe principles of the present invention is seen. FIG. 1 is perspectiveview of a dental device in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention. The dental device 10 includes a handle portion 12 and ajoinder portion 16. The handle portion 12 is preferably comprised ofrigid or semi-rigid materials such as, for example, plastic, composite,ceramic or metal.

The head 14 includes a small rigid or semi-rigid core 18 in the center.The core 18 can be seen in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 5. In thepreferred embodiment, the core is comprised of an extension of thehandle portion 12. The head portion 14 can preferably be co-molded withan elastomeric material or elastomeric foam over the core 18. Inalternative embodiments, alternative materials such as thermoplasticrubber or thermoplastic elastomer can be utilized.

One of the difficulties in cleaning or brushing small children's teethis maintaining a traditional toothbrush in the proper orientation suchthat the bristled head is in contact with the teeth. This can beparticularly cumbersome as the parent or other caregiver is used tobrushing their own teeth and is called upon to attempt to brush thechild's teeth in a backwards orientation from what the caregiver is usedto. In addition, small children have trouble utilizing traditionaltoothbrushes to clean their own teeth because of the need to orient thebrush perpendicular to the teeth. A device in accordance with theprincipals of the present invention also provides small children with animproved tool to clean their own teeth without the need to orient thebrush perpendicular to the teeth. A device in accordance with theprincipals of the present invention provides small children with a toolto train as well, empowering children to brush their own teeth.

The head portion 14 comprises a plurality of projections 23. FIG. 2 isperspective close-up view of the head of the dental device of FIG. 1.FIG. 3 is top view of the dental device of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is side viewof the head of the dental device of FIG. 1. In the embodiment depictedin FIGS. 1-6, the projections 23 comprise a plurality of raisedwave-shaped projections 25. These projections 23 act as a bristlesubstitute to clean the gum and teeth. The use of these projectionsenables the child's caregiver to clean or brush the child's teethholding the handle without particular concern of the exact orientationwhich is a particular benefit of a dental device in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention. When these projections are referredto herein as encircling the head in a 360 circumference, it is meant tobe inclusive not only of these projections encircling the head in a 360circumference or sufficiently encircling the head so as to achieve thefunctionality of enabling the user to clean or brush the child's teethholding the handle without particular concern of the exact orientation.

Conventional bristles are mounted by molding holes with tufts ofbristles pushed in place by little metal chips that act as staples.Because the dental device of the present invention is sized to be usedfor infants and small children, there is very limited room to createholes and have enough core material left to have a strong product. Inaddition, in order to mold the holes radiating out in 360 degrees, acomplicated, costly molding tool and special machinery would berequired. This is more complicated than a conventional brush where allthe holes are molded from one side and then stapled from one side.

While different sized dental devices in accordance with the principlesof the present invention are contemplated as within the scope of thepresent invention, the dental devices of the present invention arepreferably sized for the mouth of a small child. The following exemplarydimensions are given as a non-limiting illustrative example of the sizeof a dental device in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention.

In this exemplary example, the handle portion is preferably about 3.9inches in length, the joinder portion is preferably about 0.2 inches inlength, and the head is preferably about 1.15 inches in length with anabout 0.22 inch radius. The width of the plurality of raised wave-shapedprojections and the distance between each of the plurality of raisedwave-shaped projections is about 0.03 inches.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a perspective view of the dental device of FIG.1 showing an alternative handle in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention is seen. The handle portion 12 includes a raised area27 on which the user can place his or her thumb. The raised area 27 ispositioned to approximate the correct distance to the back molars of themouth of an infant or small child.

Referring to FIGS. 7-10, an alternative embodiment of a dental device inaccordance with the principles of the present invention is seen. In thisalternative embodiment, the projections 23 comprise a plurality ofcircular disks 31. The circular disks 31 encircle the core in a 360degree circumference. As a non-limiting illustrative example of the sizeof a dental device in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention, the width of the plurality of circular disks and the distancebetween each of the plurality of circular disks is about 0.03 inches.

Referring to FIGS. 10-12, an alternative embodiment of a dental devicein accordance with the principles of the present invention is seen. Inthis alternative embodiment, the projections 23 comprise a plurality ofcircular groves 33. The circular groves 33 encircle the core in a 360degree circumference. As a non-limiting illustrative example of the sizeof a dental device in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention, the width of the plurality of circular groves and thedistance between each of the plurality of circular groves is about 0.075inches.

Referring to FIGS. 13-16, an alternative embodiment of a dental devicein accordance with the principles of the present invention is seen. Inthis alternative embodiment, the projections 23 comprise a plurality ofribs 35 formed in a 360 degree circumference. As a non-limitingillustrative example of the size of a dental device in accordance withthe principles of the present invention, the width of the plurality ofribs and the distance between each of the plurality of ribs is about0.03 inches. FIG. 16 shows a cut away view of the head of the dentaldevice of FIGS. 13-15. It is seen that the plurality of ribs 35 areformed as a plurality of extensions on a circular disk. As anon-limiting illustrative example of the size of a dental device inaccordance with the principles of the present invention, the depth ofeach of the plurality of ribs is about 0.02 inches with each of theplurality of ribs formed at an about 45 degree angle.

Referring to FIGS. 17-19, an alternative embodiment of a dental devicein accordance with the principles of the present invention is seen. Inthis alternative embodiment, the projections 23 comprise a plurality ofspikes 37 formed in a 360 degree circumference. As a non-limitingillustrative example of the size of a dental device in accordance withthe principles of the present invention, the width of the plurality ofspikes and the distance between each of the plurality of spikes is about0.033 inches, with the angle between each adjacent of the plurality ofspikes about 30 degrees.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepreferred embodiments described herein would be apparent to thoseskilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention and withoutdemising its attendant advantages. It is therefore intended that suchchanges and modifications be covered by the appended claims.

1. A dental device comprising: a handle portion; and a head portion, thehead portion comprising a plurality of projections.
 2. The dental deviceof claim 1 further wherein the handle portion is comprised of rigid orsemi-rigid material.
 3. The dental device of claim 2 further wherein therigid or semi-rigid material is selected from the group comprisingplastic, composite, ceramic, metal or combinations thereof.
 4. Thedental device of claim 1 further wherein the handle portion is comprisedof rigid or semi-rigid material.
 5. The dental device of claim 4 furtherwherein the rigid or semi-rigid material is selected from the groupcomprising plastic, composite, ceramic, metal or combinations thereof.6. The dental device of claim 1 further wherein the head portionincludes a small rigid or semi-rigid core in the center.
 7. The dentaldevice of claim 6 further wherein the core is comprised of an extensionof the handle portion.
 8. The dental device of claim 7 further whereinthe head portion is co-molded with an elastomeric material orelastomeric foam over the core.
 9. The dental device of claim 1 furtherwherein the head portion is selected from the group comprisingthermoplastic rubber, thermoplastic elastomer or combinations thereof.10. The dental device of claim 1 further wherein the plurality ofprojections encircle the core in a 360 degree circumference.
 11. Thedental device of claim 1 further wherein the plurality of projectionscomprise a plurality of raised wave-shaped projections.
 12. The dentaldevice of claim 11 further wherein the plurality of raised wave-shapedprojections encircle the core in a 360 degree circumference.
 13. Thedental device of claim 1 further wherein the plurality of projectionscomprise a plurality of circular disks.
 14. The dental device of claim13 further wherein the plurality of circular disks encircle the core ina 360 degree circumference.
 15. The dental device of claim 1 furtherwherein the plurality of projections comprise a plurality of circulargroves.
 16. The dental device of claim 15 further wherein the pluralityof circular groves encircle the core in a 360 degree circumference. 17.The dental device of claim 1 further wherein the plurality ofprojections comprise a plurality of ribs.
 18. The dental device of claim17 further wherein the plurality of ribs encircle the core in a 360degree circumference.
 19. The dental device of claim 1 further whereinthe plurality of projections comprise a plurality of spikes.
 20. Thedental device of claim 19 further wherein the plurality of spikesencircle the core in a 360 degree circumference.
 21. The dental deviceof claim 1 further wherein the handle portion includes a raised area onwhich the adult user can place his or her thumb.
 22. The dental deviceof claim 21 further wherein the raised area is positioned to approximatethe correct distance to the back molars of the mouth of an infant orsmall child.
 23. A dental device comprising: a handle portion; and ahead portion, the head portion comprising a bristle substitute, thebristle substitute encircling the core in a 360 degree circumference.24. The dental device of claim 23 further wherein the handle portion iscomprised of rigid or semi-rigid material.
 25. The dental device ofclaim 24 further wherein the rigid or semi-rigid material is selectedfrom the group comprising plastic, composite, ceramic, metal orcombinations thereof.
 26. The dental device of claim 23 further whereinthe head portion includes a small rigid or semi-rigid core in thecenter.
 27. The dental device of claim 26 further wherein the core iscomprised of an extension of the handle portion.
 28. The dental deviceof claim 27 further wherein the head portion is co-molded with anelastomeric material or elastomeric foam over the core.
 29. The dentaldevice of claim 28 further wherein the head portion is selected from thegroup comprising thermoplastic rubber, thermoplastic elastomer orcombinations thereof.
 30. The dental device of claim 23 further whereinthe bristle substitute comprises a plurality of projections.
 31. Thedental device of claim 30 further wherein the plurality of projectionscomprise a plurality of raised wave-shaped projections.
 32. The dentaldevice of claim 30 further wherein the plurality of projections comprisea plurality of circular disks.
 33. The dental device of claim 30 furtherwherein the plurality of projections comprise a plurality of circulargroves.
 34. The dental device of claim 30 further wherein the pluralityof projections comprise a plurality of ribs.
 35. The dental device ofclaim 30 further wherein the plurality of projections comprise aplurality of spikes.
 36. The dental device of claim 23 further whereinthe handle portion includes a raised area on which the adult user canplace his or her thumb.
 37. The dental device of claim 36 furtherwherein the raised area is positioned to approximate the correctdistance to the back molars of the mouth of an infant or small child.38. A dental device comprising: a handle portion; and a head portion,the head portion including means for encircling the head in a 360circumference, with a plurality of projections.
 39. The dental device ofclaim 38 further wherein the plurality of projections comprise aplurality of raised wave-shaped projections.
 40. The dental device ofclaim 38 further wherein the plurality of projections comprise aplurality of circular disks.
 41. The dental device of claim 38 furtherwherein the plurality of projections comprise a plurality of circulargroves.
 42. The dental device of claim 38 further wherein the pluralityof projections comprise a plurality of ribs.
 43. The dental device ofclaim 38 further wherein the plurality of projections comprise aplurality of spikes.